Am I man enough?

I had an hour-long meeting from home over the phone and my wife, Brenda, and I had planned to go to an event afterward. Forty-five minutes after the call, Brenda entered the room and pointed to her wrist, moving her lips: “We have to go.” After a few minutes, she came back in and stared at me. My mind was completely distracted from the call I was making. When I finished, I told her that her behavior was rude, and she in turn told me that I was rude, too. I didn't realize until things got heated between us that she thought the call was only supposed to last thirty minutes, and that I was late as usual.

Defining Manhood

Brenda and I have turned such everyday misunderstandings into comprehensive arguments hundreds of times. But this time we did not, and we rarely do so. I have learned that there is something else involved in our succession: a silent, subconscious test of me. It was as if I heard my wife's voice asking me a question: Are you man enough to love me? For a long time, I was convinced of the stereotype of masculinity; I thought that a man full of masculinity had a strong, athletic body, and was not afraid of risks. He might even eat raw meat, shave his beard with a saw, and fight bears! But I had to learn a more comprehensive definition of masculinity; A more correct definition for my marriage: My wife needs me to love her when she is not behaving very lovingly, and if I cannot succeed in being strong and courageous in relationships and emotional aspects, then any outward manifestations of masculinity are just shadows.

Show her love in the midst of an argument

So, once the argument gets heated - or hopefully before it starts to get heated - ask yourself: Am I man enough to love her now? You will prove that you are man enough when you show internal discipline and remain calm and in control of the situation. When you stop arguing and insisting that she understand you, you will feel stronger than ever before, and you will in turn feel loved more than ever before. From the book 44 Amazing by: Gary Moreland